Access site management after aortic valvuloplasty using a suture mediated closure device: Clinical experience in 4 cases

Management of the femoral access site following percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty is often associated with significant vascular morbidity. In an effort to reduce vascular complications, a novel method of suture mediat ed closure device deployment was employed in four patients that underwent a ortic valvuloplasty at our institution. Delivery of the sutures to the acce ss site took place prior to the intervention in all patients. This pre-clos e technique allowed the sutures to be placed utilizing the 10 French (Fr) c losure device prior to expanding the access site to a 14 Fr size. This was done to facilitate adequate tissue capture, thereby assuring successful hem ostasis following sheath removal. The technique was successful in all patie nts and none of the patients suffered vascular complications. This new acce ss site management method was successful in achieving hemostasis and provid ed improved patient recovery in this small group of patients as compared to our usual experience.